JP3269036B2 - Automatic disk changer with reversing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic disk exchange apparatus provided with an inversion mechanism for inverting a disk such as a CD or DVD used for a storage device such as a computer or a recording / reproducing device such as an AV device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, discs such as FDs and MOs are housed in a case and handled as cartridges. Therefore, an automatic disc exchanging apparatus replaces a disc by exchanging the case between storage means and a recording / reproducing apparatus. It is possible. Therefore, when it is necessary to turn over a disk that can use both storage surfaces on the front and back, that is, when it is necessary to turn over the disk, the automatic disk changing apparatus can turn over the disk by turning over the case.

[0003]

However, in recent years, as discs such as CDs and DVDs which do not require a case have been developed, an automatic disc exchanging apparatus mounts such discs on a tray-shaped pallet and stores them. Means and a recording / reproducing means.

For this reason, when using both storage surfaces on the front and back of the disk, the automatic disk exchange device needs to be inverted with the disk mounted on the pallet.
If the disk is reversed as it is, the disk will fall from the pallet.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reversing mechanism for reversing a disc between a storage means and a recording / reproducing means, transferring the disc to another pallet, and transporting the pallet. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic disk exchange device having a reversing mechanism simplified by the above.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an automatic disk exchange apparatus provided with a reversing mechanism according to the present invention, comprising: storage means for storing a disk; and recording means for recording and reproducing information on and from the disk. Reproducing means; and transport means for transporting the disk between the storage means and the recording / reproducing means. The transport means has a built-in reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of the disc, and the reversing mechanism comprises a first reversing mechanism. And a pallet accommodating portion for accommodating a second pallet in each guide groove, wherein the first pallet on which the disk is mounted and the second pallet on which the disk is not mounted face the pallet accommodating portion. Automatic disk exchange device for mounting the disk inverted by inverting the pallet accommodating portion on the second pallet, wherein the transport means A rotating part rotatably supported by the fixed part, a front-rear moving member movably supported in the front-rear direction by driving means on the rotating part, and a vertically movable part supported by the front-rear moving member in the vertical direction. A claw member for selectively grasping the first pallet or the second pallet and taking in and out along the guide groove; and a vertically moving member which is supported by the rotating portion so as to be vertically movable and receives the claw member. By inverting the pallet accommodating portion with the claw member received by the vertically moving member, the vertically moving member is moved downward to push down the claw member, and the claw member is moved to the first pallet. It is characterized in that it is displaced from a corresponding position to a position corresponding to the second pallet.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which a part of the box 1 is shown by imaginary lines.
Storage 2 for mounting and storing a large number of discs as information recording media such as CDs and DVDs on thin pallets
And a plurality of recording / reproducing drives 3 for recording / reproducing information on / from a disc are arranged on the same circumference. In a space surrounded by the storage 2 and the recording / reproducing drive 3, a transport mechanism 4 for transporting a pallet on which a disk is mounted between the storage 2 and the recording / reproducing drive 3 is arranged. In the embodiment, the storages 2 are arranged in tandem at, for example, three locations on the same circumference, and the recording / reproducing drives 3 are arranged in tandem at, for example, one location on the same circumference.

In the transport mechanism 4, the upper and lower disks 5, 6 are rotatably arranged on a center line A of the same circumference where the storage 2 and the recording / reproducing drive 3 are arranged. These disks 5, 6
A support 7 is eccentrically supported. The support 7 transfers a pallet on which a disk is mounted to the storage 2 or the recording / reproducing drive 3 and also reverses the received disk and the pallet. 8 are supported. The reversing delivery mechanism 8 is configured to be able to move up and down along the column 7 and to be rotatable integrally with the column 7 around the center line A. A drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the discs 5 and 6 in the rotating direction and driving the reversing and transferring mechanism 8 in the vertical direction is provided. The reversing and transferring mechanism 8 can face the desired storage 2 or the recording / reproducing drive 3. It has been.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reversing and transferring mechanism 8 shown together with one set of pallets 9. The reversing and transferring mechanism 8 accommodates two sets of pallets 9. That is, the disk D is not mounted on the reverse transfer mechanism 8.
The pallets 9 are accommodated with a space provided in advance, and the two pallets 9 on which the disks D are mounted are respectively drawn in adjacent to the lower side of the pallets 9 accommodated in advance. ing.

The four pallets 9 are accommodated in the reversing / transferring mechanism 8 by two pairs of claw members described later provided in the reversing / delivery mechanism 8, or are discharged from the reversing / delivery mechanism 8. I have. Then, the adjacent pallets 9 in the reversing delivery mechanism 8 are stacked so as to face each other,
When the stacked pallets 9 are inverted by 180 degrees, the front and back sides are inverted so that the disk D does not fall from between the pallets 9.

When the direction of entry into the reverse transfer mechanism 8 is set to the front of the pallet 9, the pallet 9 is symmetrical in front and rear and left and right, and a front surface 11 on which the disk D is mounted and a back surface opposite to the front surface 11. 12, and two pairs of front and rear projecting pieces 13 that project from the center in the left-right direction and are gripped by the below-described claw members of the reversing delivery mechanism 8.

A circular recess 14 for accommodating the disk D is formed on the surface 11 of the pallet 9.
A circular window 15 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the disk D is formed concentrically. A step (not shown) is provided at a corner of the circular concave portion 14.
And the diameter of the step is such that the disk D does not contact the recording surface of the disk D even if the disk D moves in the circular recess 14.

Accordingly, the two pallets 9 pre-stored in the reversing and transferring mechanism 8 face the surface 11 downward, and the pallet 9 with the disk D mounted on the surface 11 is the pallet 9 previously stored. Is accommodated under the surface 11 so that the surfaces 11 face each other.

The reversing delivery mechanism 8 has a fixed portion 21 attached to the column 7 so as to be vertically movable.
The rotating part 22 is supported by the fixed part 21 so as to be rotatable around the axis B inside the inside. When the direction in which the reverse transfer mechanism 8 transfers the pallet 9 is set to the front, the shapes of the fixed portion 21 and the rotating portion 22 are symmetrical left and right and up and down except for a part described later. However, since the rotating portion 22 is provided with a vertically moving member to be described later, the same reference numerals are used for members and portions located at left and right symmetric positions in the drawing, and different members and portions are located at vertically symmetric positions. Signs are used.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the reverse transfer mechanism 8, wherein the front plate 21 a of the fixed portion 21 and the front plate 2 of the rotating portion 22 are shown.
The center of 2a is rotatably connected via a support shaft 23, and the center of the rear plate 21b of the fixed portion 21 and the rear plate 22b of the rotary portion 22 are also connected to the rear plate of the rotary portion 22 via a support shaft (not shown). 22b is rotatably connected to the rear plate 21b of the fixed part 21. Side plate 21c of fixed part 21 and side plate 22c of rotating part 22
Distance between the side plates 21c, 22 even if the rotating portion 22 rotates.
c are so large that they do not contact each other. And FIG.
As shown in the figure, the concave portion 21 at the center of the rear plate 21b of the fixing portion 21
d is a drive motor 2 for driving the rotating portion 22 to rotate.
4 is provided.
It is designed to be driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions by 0 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the reversing mechanism 8 in which the rotating part 22 is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees from the front plate 22a side to the rear plate 22b side. Is drawn. As shown in FIG. 2, four pairs of first to fourth guide grooves 25 to 25 for guiding the pallet 9 are provided on the inner surface of the side plate 22 c of the rotating portion 22.
28 are provided. The interval between the first guide groove 25 and the second guide groove 26 and the interval between the third guide groove 27 and the fourth guide groove 28 are such that the opposing pallets 9 are overlapped with no gap, and It is provided so that the disk D mounted on the pallet 9 does not drop even if it rotates. The distance between the second guide groove 26 and the third guide groove 27 is determined by the front plate 21a of the fixed portion 21 and the front plate 22a of the rotating portion 22.
And the pallet 9 is easily guided in the second and third guide grooves 26 and 27 in a horizontal state.

The pallet 9 without the disk D is mounted.
Are stored in the first guide groove 25 and the third guide groove 27 in advance. The width of the front plate 21a of the fixed part 21 and the width of the front plate 22a of the rotating part 22 are narrowed so that the pallet 9 can pass horizontally through the second and third guide grooves 26 and 27. Instead of reducing the width of the front plates 21a, 22a, a slot for inserting the pallet 9 into the front plates 21a, 22a may be provided.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the rotating portion 22. A claw member 3 for gripping the pallet 9 is provided on a side plate 22c of the rotating portion 22.
First to fourth claw guide gaps 32a to 32d for guiding 0 and 31 in the front-rear direction are formed to communicate with the first to fourth guide grooves 25 to 28, respectively. The width of these claw guide gaps 32a to 32d is set to a size that does not allow the pallet 9 to jump out. At the rear of the side plate 22c,
Claw switching gaps 33a, 3 for moving the claw members 30, 31 so as to align them with appropriate claw guide gaps 32a to 32d.
3b, the claw guide gaps 32a, 32b and the claw guide gap 32
It is formed so that it may communicate with c and 32d, respectively.

The side plate 22c has a longitudinal moving member 34,
There are provided gaps 36a, 36b for moving the 35 in the front-rear direction, and rails 37a, 37b for supporting the front-rear moving members 34, 35. Further, at the front end of the outer surface of the side plate 22c, a pressing member 38 for pressing the claw members 30 and 31 to rotate inward is supported by a support shaft 38a fixed to the side plate 22c.
And are rotatably supported. And the side plate 22c
A solenoid 39 having a rod 39a for driving the pressing member 38 is attached near the pressing member 38 on the outer surface of the device.

Therefore, the first to fourth guide grooves 25 to 28, the claw members 30, 31, the first to fourth claw guide grooves 32a to 32d, the gaps 33a, 33b, the gap 36a,
36b, rails 37a and 37b, a pressing member 38, and a solenoid 39 are provided in pairs on the left and right, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2 again, the back and forth moving member 34,
35 is screwed to the screw shafts 41a and 41b, which are pivotally supported by the rotating portion 22, via connecting portions 34a and 35a, respectively, so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and on the outer surface of the rear plate 22b of the rotating portion 22,
Drive motors 42a and 42b for driving the screw shafts 41a and 41b to rotate are attached, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows one claw member 31 and a front-rear moving member 35.
5 is a partially enlarged perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the connecting mechanism of FIG. 4, and the connecting mechanism of the other claw member 30 and the front-rear moving member 34 has the same configuration. The fore-and-aft movement members 34 and 35 are movable in the C direction with respect to the rotating portion 22, and the claw members 30 and 3
Numeral 1 is supported by front and rear moving members 34 and 35 via support shafts 43a and 43b, and is slidable in the D direction and rotatable in the E direction with respect to the front and rear moving members 34 and 35. Claw member 3
The coil springs 45a and 45b are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the bearing portions 44a and 44b integrated with the coil springs 0 and 31, respectively.
5a, 45b is locked in the locking holes 34b, 35b of the front and rear moving members 34, 35, so that the claw member 30,
31 is biased in the E direction. And the front and rear moving member 3
Rollers 46a and 46b that roll on rails 37a and 37b are provided on the inner surfaces of the rollers 4 and 35, respectively.

Therefore, the support shaft 4 is attached to the front and rear moving members 34 and 35.
3a, 43b, bearings 44a, 44b, coil spring 45
a, 45b and rollers 46a, 46b are provided in pairs on the left and right, respectively. In addition, the front and rear moving member 3
4 and 35 are provided one by one on the upper and lower sides, and the screw shafts 41a and 4
1b is provided on each side.

A U-shaped vertical moving member 47 is connected to the rear plate 22b via a guide portion 48 in front of the rear plate 22b inside the rotating portion 22, and the vertical moving member 47 is D-shaped. It is movable in the direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the vertically moving member 47 includes bases 30 a and 31 of the claw members 30 and 31.
a, and wide gaps 47c, 47d through which the longitudinal members 34, 35 are inserted.
(The gap 47d is not shown). When the claw members 30 and 31 are respectively inserted into the gaps 47a and 47b of the vertically moving member 47, as shown in FIG.
0b and 31b (thick portion 30b is not shown) are in contact with the inner surface of the vertically moving member 47, and the outward rotation is restricted.

The vertically moving member 47 thus formed is
When the rotating portion 22 rotates, it moves downward by gravity, so that one gap 47a is aligned with the second claw guide gap 32b and the other gap 47b is aligned with the fourth claw guide gap 32d. Has become. When the rotating part 22 rotates in the reverse direction, the vertically moving member 47 similarly moves downward by gravity, so that one gap 47a is aligned with the first claw guide groove 32a, and the other gap 47b is the third gap 47b. The claw guide groove 32c is aligned.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right stoppers 49a is provided on both sides of the rear portion of the both side plates 21c of the fixed portion 21. A pair of upper and lower projecting pieces 4 that can be contacted from the moving direction
If the rotating member 9b is provided, it is possible to forcibly move the vertically moving member 47 downward when the rotating part 22 rotates in the forward and reverse directions.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the reverse delivery mechanism 8 cut along the axis B. First, the reverse delivery mechanism 8 divides the empty pallet 9a into the first guide groove 25 and the third guide groove 27.
In addition, the front surface 11 is accommodated with the lower side facing down. The vertically moving member 47 is provided with a function of gravity or a stopper 49.
a and the projection 49b moves downward, and the claw members 30 and 31 correspond to the second guide groove 26 and the fourth guide groove 28, respectively.

Next, the control circuit of the transport mechanism 4 issues a command, and the transport mechanism 4 transports the reverse transfer mechanism 8 to a desired front of the storage 2 as shown in FIG. Then, one drive motor 42a of the reverse transfer mechanism 8 is connected to one screw shaft 41a.
To drive one of the front and rear moving members 34 forward. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Slides on the side surface of the vertically moving member 47 and thereafter on the bottom surface of the second guide groove 26, and protrudes from the front plate 22 a of the rotating portion 22.

At this time, the sliding surface 30c of the claw member 30 is disengaged from the second guide groove 26, and the claw member 30 is
It rotates outward by the urging force of a. And the claw member 30
When the engaging groove 30d has advanced to a position where the protruding piece 13 of the pallet 9b on which the disk D is mounted can be engaged, the solenoid 39 operates and the rod 39a slides on the claw member 30 via the pressing member 38. The moving surface 30c is pressed. As a result, the projection 13 of the pallet 9 is inserted into the engagement groove 30 d of the claw member 30.
Are engaged, and the claw member 30 grips the pallet 9b.

Thereafter, the drive motor 42a is connected to the screw shaft 41.
a is rotated in the reverse direction to pull the claw member 30 into the second guide groove 26. When the sliding surface 30c of the claw member 30 slides on the bottom surface of the second guide groove 26, the operation of the solenoid 39 is stopped, and thereafter, the posture of the claw member 30 is changed to the second guide. The pallet 9b on which the desired disk D is mounted is pulled into the second guide groove 26 while being held at the bottom of the groove 26. Further, the transport mechanism 4 transports the reverse transfer mechanism 8 to another desired storage 2 as necessary, and the other claw member 3
1 hooks the pallet 9b on which the desired disk D is mounted in the same manner as the one claw member 30, and pulls it into the fourth guide groove 28 as shown in FIG. As a result, two empty pallets 9a and two discs D
This means that the pallets 9b have been stored.

When the reversing and transferring mechanism 8 accommodates the pallet 9b loaded with the desired disk D from the storage 2 in this way, the transport mechanism 4 starts to transport the reversing and transferring mechanism 8 to the front of the recording / reproducing drive 3. Here, when the reversal of the disk D is necessary, the drive motor 24 shown in FIGS.
To rotate the rotating part 22 by 180 degrees. At this time, since the empty pallets 9a are previously accommodated in the first guide grooves 25 and the third guide grooves 27, when the rotating part 22 is inverted as shown in FIG. And the upper pallet 9b is emptied.

When the rotating portion 22 is rotated, the vertical moving member 47 is moved by its own weight, or the stopper 49a and the other projection 4
9b, the claw members 30, 31 move to positions corresponding to the lower first guide groove 25 and third guide groove 27, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, after the transport mechanism 4 moves the reverse transfer mechanism 8 to the front of the recording / reproducing drive 3, the pawl members 30 and 31 are driven simultaneously or one by one to drive the pallet 9a on which the inverted disk D is mounted. Into the recording / reproduction drive 3.

During this time, the solenoid 39 is operated, and the engaging grooves 30d and 31d of the pawl members 30 and 31 are engaged with the protruding pieces 13 of the pallet 9a. The pallet 9a is pushed into a predetermined position in the recording / reproduction drive 3. Thereafter, the operation of the solenoid 39 is stopped, and the pawl members 30, 31 rotate outward by the urging force of the coil springs 45a, 45b, so that the engaging grooves 30d, 31d of the pawl members 30, 31 and the pallet 9 project. The engagement with the piece 13 is released. Then, the pawl members 30 and 31 are drawn into the rotating portion 22 after opening the pallet 9a.

In this way, when the disk D is transported to the recording / reproducing drive 3, the disk D that needs to be reversed
Performs the reversal in the reversal delivery mechanism 8, but the disc D that does not need to be reversed is not reversed but is
To the recording / reproduction drive 3.

The disc D after recording and reproduction by the recording and reproduction drive 3 is taken out by the reverse transfer mechanism 8 and returned to the storage 2 by reverse operation.
At this time, the disc D which has been reversed may be reversed by the reversing delivery mechanism 8 and returned, or may be returned as it is. When returning the data as it is, the memory of the control circuit needs to store the fact.

As described above, in the embodiment, the first portion of the rotating portion 22
The empty pallet 9a is stored in advance in each of the guide groove 25 and the third guide groove 27, and the pallet 9b on which the disk D is mounted is moved to the second guide groove 26 on the lower side of the empty pallet 9a. And the disc D can be sandwiched between the two pallets 9a and 9b. By rotating the rotating part 22 by 180 degrees,
It can be mounted in an inverted state on an empty pallet 9a stored in advance.

The reversing delivery mechanism 8 is provided with one claw member 3.
By exchanging the disk D of the recording / reproducing drive 3 by operating both the 0 and the other claw members 31, a new disk D is conveyed by one claw member 30, and the disk D which has been used is replaced by the other. The claw member 31 can be pulled into the rotating portion 22. For this reason, the time required for transporting the disk D to the storage 2 which has been required so far becomes unnecessary, and the processing time can be reduced. Further, even if one of the claw members 30, 31 fails, the other can continue to operate, so that it has a fail-safe function. It should be noted that the reversing delivery mechanism 8 can use only one of the delivery mechanisms. However, it is of course possible to use only one of the delivery mechanisms unless shortening of processing time or fail-safe is considered. is there.

In the above-described embodiment, two sets of pallets are stored in the reverse transfer mechanism 8. However, one set of pallets may be used. Alternatively, the disk D may be stored in the storage 2 and recorded / reproduced. Although the exchange between the drives 3 has been described, it goes without saying that the disk D can be used only for transporting to the storage 2 or the recording / reproducing drive 3 instead of exchanging the disk D. Although the storage 2 and the recording / reproducing drive 3 are provided at different positions on the same circumference, they may be provided so as to overlap each other. In addition, the transport mechanism 4 transports the pallet 9 to the storage 2 and the recording / reproducing drive 3 arranged on the same circumference. You may comprise so that it may carry linearly.

Further, a plurality of automatic disk exchange devices are connected in series, and each box 1 is provided with a mechanism capable of transferring a pallet 9 loaded with the disk D to another automatic disk exchange device. In this case, an infrared signal can be used for signal connection between these automatic exchange devices.

Further, an intermediate plate having a hole through which the disk D passes between the two pallets 9 may be provided in the rotating portion 22. By providing this intermediate plate, even if the gap between the pallets 9 is not sufficiently accurate, the disk D
There is no danger of falling from the gap.

[0041]

As described above, the automatic disc changing apparatus provided with the reversing mechanism according to the present invention comprises a claw member having a complicated structure to be provided for each pallet and a driving means therefor in the reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of a disc. Since one pallet is used in common, the mechanism can be reduced in size and simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reversal delivery mechanism shown together with a set of pallets.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view of the reversing delivery mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the reverse transfer mechanism in a state in which a rotation unit is rotated by 90 degrees.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a rotating unit.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 of a rotating unit.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Storage 3 Recording / reproducing drive 4 Transport mechanism 8 Reverse transfer mechanism 9, 9a, 9b Pallet 21 Fixed part 22 Rotating part 24, 42a, 42b Driving motor 30, 31 Claw member 34, 35 Front / rear moving member 41a, 41b Screw shaft 47 vertical moving member 47a, 47b gap 49a, 49b stopper D disk

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-249782 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G11B 17/22-17/30

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage means for storing a disk, a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing information on / from the disk, and a transport means for transporting the disk between the storage means and the recording / reproducing means. The transport means has a built-in reversing mechanism for reversing the front and back of the disc, and the reversing mechanism is
Pallets for accommodating the first and second pallets in their respective guide grooves
The first disk mounted with the disk.
The second palette without the pallet and the disk
The pallet and the pallet storage section.
The data is inverted by inverting the pallet storage section.
Automatic disk exchange for loading a disk on the second pallet
A transfer device, which is rotatably supported by a fixed portion of the transfer means.
Holding part, and the driving part drives the turning part in the front-rear direction.
A back and forth moving member movably supported, and
The first pallet or the first pallet
Select the pallet 2 and take it in and out along the guide groove
Claw member, which is vertically movably supported by the rotating portion,
And a vertically moving member for receiving the claw member.
The pallet storage portion is received in the vertically moving member.
To move the vertically moving member downward.
And press down the claw member to move the claw member into the first path.
From the position corresponding to the pallet to the second pallet.
An automatic disk exchange device provided with a reversing mechanism, which is displaced to a corresponding position . 2. The vertically moving member moves downward by its own weight.
2. The disk automatic replacement device according to claim 1, wherein
Place. 3. The driving means is threadedly engaged with the forward / backward moving member.
Screw member rotatably supported by the rotating portion in a state in which
And attached to the rotating part while being connected to the screw member.
2. The automatic disk changing device according to claim 1, further comprising a drive motor .